Monsters and Criminals

Monsters and Criminals

Letter to the Reader

Dear Reader,

As I read the stories of Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales,I noticed one recurring theme: Monsters and Criminals. The theme was common and made the stories what they are. Without these characters, these stories would not be interesting in the slightest. When it came to choosing a multigenre project theme, I could not think of a better idea than monsters and criminals. I found developing this theme very easy for me because I could identify and explain the characters easily. I incorporated wealth into my theme because many of the characters were driven by wealth to commit the criminalistic acts.

While reading these tales, I learned that basic characters have many aspects that help you further understand their actions as you begin to analyze them. I believe that my drawing is a great depiction of Grendel’s mother. It shows that she was not only disliked by Beowulf, but the entire community as their was a reward for her death. While writing my ballad/rap, I found it very difficult to continue the ballad pattern and rhyming while telling the story. The song is hard to piece together and flow while painting a picture of the situation. In the future, I would like to continue the project by creating a video or short film of Beowulf and depicting the tale in more modern terms. I believe that this would be a better way to explain the story to readers who did not quite understand the story in it’s current form.

Sincerely,

Lane Bonderer

Wanted Poster from Beowulf Description

My multi genre project is a wanted poster for Grendel’s mother. The wanted poster is related to criminals and monsters theme. It shows that Grendel’s mother is infamous and wanted dead for the evil things she has done. She is wanted not only by Beowulf, but also by the community as there is a reward for her. The picture of her shows how ugly she was and green from living deep underwater. I used vibrant colors to show her ugliness. I used shading to show depth. I used the Wanted Poster to represent the bad things that she had done. She has done many crimes including killing people, eating livestock, and destroying villages. She raised Grendel to be a monster and be worse than her.

Beowulf Ballad/Rap

Will the Real Beowulf please Stand up?

May I have your attention please?

I'm not afraid (I'm not afraid)

To kill Grendel (to kill Grendel)

Everybody (everybody)

Come take my life (come take my arm)

We'll walk through Denmark, all together, through the storm

Whatever weather, cold or warm

Just lettin Grendel, know he’s warned

Look, Beowulf’s only got one shot, or one opportunity, to sieze everything he’s ever wanted in one moment, is he gonna let it slip? Year 1300!

got mead in his belly, shoulders rough, palms are sweaty

There's food the table already, mead is heavy

‘Wulfs nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready to slay beasts,

Grendel keeps on just shredding all these little towns,

The whole castle goes so loud

He pulls out his sword but it won’t work out,

But wait, Grendel chokin now, the Geats are jokin now,

the clock’s run out, shoulder’s OUT

Snap back to actuality, Dragon watch your chest cavity,

Oh there goes Wulf, he won

He’s so glad, but he won’t give up now

No, he hasn’t won it, he knows he gonna go have cope

With Grendel’s Momma, Wolf’s dope

When he goes back to his soldier’s home, that’s when it’s

Back to show no grin, no

This whole dang fight will give thick skin

He better go win the next fight and hope it decapitate him

He better go capture his moment

And I am, a great monster

If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?

In the paper, the news everyday I am

Radio won't even play my jam

'Cause I am, a great monster

If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?

In the paper, the news everyday I am

I don't know it's just the way I am

You better slay me and my momma too

You own it, you better never let it go for you

You only get one shot, do not miss your chance

This opportunity comes and goes in a glance

You better slay me and my momma too

You own it, you better never let it go

You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to kill me yo

This opportunity comes once in a lifetime fo sho

So lets go back

Follow Grendel's Trail

Journey through Denmark

This ain’t a Folktale

Well, gotta go, I'm almost at the marsh now

And when I'm gone, just turn and leave, don't mourn

Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my scorn

Just know that I'm looking down on you celebrating

And I didn't feel a thing, So baby don't feel no pain

Just stay and refrain

And when he's gone, just turn and leave,

Rejoice every time you hear the sound of his sleeve

Just know that he's looking down on you crying

Ballad/Rap Description

The project is a rap song written by Wagner and I about Beowulf. The theme is criminals have their own thoughts and actions just as everyone else, but they have a different mindset. We use Grendel and his mother’s point of view to describe Beowulf and retell the story. The rap uses many symbols and rhymes to express the details of the story and leave the rest open to the reader's imagination as they comprehend the song. Raps and ballads are extremely similar in how they rhyme and flow. Raps are just to a different tempo of music. Ballads are softer and more gentle while raps are faster paced and more articulated.

Diary Entries from The Canterbury Tales

Dear Diary,

Today, my brothers and I have started on a great adventure. Our objective is to find the privy thief that they call death and slay him so that he may no longer terrorize this area. We were midway into our journey and we crossed paths with an poor old man. After some discussion, he notified us that he had left death under an oak tree. My brothers and I continued towards the oak tree searching for death. Under the tree, we found a plentiful treasure of gold coins. Enough to make us all rich for the rest of our lives. The oldest brother devised the plan to transport the gold at night so it could not be taken. We drew straws to figure out who was to gather supplies in the nearby town for tonight. The youngest brother drew the shortest straw and went to town. While he was gone, the eldest brother created the devious plan for us to kill the youngest brother and split his fortune. After much argument, I agreed. I was to pretend to wrestle him when he arrived and the eldest was to slip behind him and slay him with his dagger. Now I sit under the oak tree unsure of what to think of the plan, while waiting for the younger brother to return.

Until Next Time,

Middle Brother

Dear Diary,

Today my brothers and I found gold under an oak tree while searching for death. We were led to the gold by a poor old man who said he had left death under a tree for us. I was quite confused when I found the gold, but was extremely excited to have it. After drawing straws, I was forced to go into the nearby town to gather bread and wine to last us until the night was over. I gathered the bread and wine quickly. On my errand I began to have greedy thoughts, I thought about how much money I could have for myself with just a little poison in their drink. I went to the apothecary and bought poison for killing rats. I mixed the poison in with my other two brothers’ bottles of wine. I am nervous for how this will play out but excited to have vast wealth for the rest of my life. I am currently heading back to meet them with my two older brothers.

Sincerely a nervous wreck,

Youngest Brother

Diary Entry Descriptions

The main two themes in the entries are criminals and wealth. The themes are expressed when the brothers find the money and they turn to criminalistic activities because of their greed. These two diary entries show that the brothers are very criminalistic and obsessed with wealth. They are very greedy and not hesitant to kill their own brothers. The brothers are smart and each come up with a plan to acquire more wealth through death. The brothers all end up dying because of the selfish greediness of each other.